Anchor

ABSTRACT

A construction is provided for a mooring anchor to be used in securing large floating structures such as dry docks, cranes, large work platforms, and the like in a permanent or semipermanent position. Further, in accordance with this invention, the anchor structure permits a modification of the fluke angle (the angle between the plane of the flukes and the plane of the shank) to the end that the anchor is suited for use in either a sand bottom or a mud bottom. It has been found that the best fluke angle for sand is 35* while that for a mud bottom is 50*. In addition, the anchor structure is quite rugged so that it will withstand successfully the force necessary to retrieve the anchor even though it has been embedded in bottom for a long period.

United States Patent [191 Linnenbank NOV. 27, 1973 ANCHOR [75] Inventor: Charles D. Linnenbank, Media, Pa.

[73] Assignee: Baldt Corporation, Chester, Pa.

"Eii;52""6;i1"26, 197-1 [21] Appl. No.: 191,986

[52] US. Cl 114/208 R [51] Int. Cl. 1363b 21/44 [58] Field of Search 114/208;

287/189.36 F, 20.92 D, 20.92 Y

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,015,299 1/1962 Towne et a1. 114/208 R 3,407,776 10/1968 Newton 114/208 R 2,677,343 5/1954 Shipley 114/208 R 1,157,469 10/1915 Von Philp 287/189.36 F

Primary Examiner-'Milton Buchler Assistant Examiner-Galen L. Barefoot AttorneyEckhoff, Hoppe, Slick, Mitchell and Anderson [5 7] ABSTRACT A construction is provided for a mooring anchor to be used in securing large floating structures such as dry docks, cranes, large work platforms, and the like in a permanent or semi-permanent position. Further, in accordance with this invention, the anchor structure permits a modification of the fluke angle (the angle between the plane of the flukes and the plane of the shank) to the end that the anchor is suited for use in either a sand bottom or a mud bottom. It has been found that the .best fluke angle for sand is 35 while,

that for a mud bottom is 50. In addition, the anchor structure is quite rugged so that it will withstand successfully the force necessary to retrieve the anchor even though it has been embedded in bottom for a long period.

1 Claim, 4 Drawing Figures PMENTEUNUYE? I975 INVENTQR.

FII

CHARLES 0. LINNENBANK ANCHOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Mooring anchors for permanent or semi-permanent use have been proposed heretofore andone can refer to the Towne et al. US. Pat. 3,015,299. While the anchor shown in that patent is satisfactory in use, when it is desired to retrieve the anchor, its structure is such that it cannot be recovered in an operable condition.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is in general the broad object of the present invention to provide a mooring anchor especially designed for use in anchoring large marine structures in place but which anchor is capable of successful retrieval if the occasion for this arises.

Further, the anchor of this invention is capable of modification so that it can be quickly and handily adapted to the bottom in which it is to be employed by altering the angle of the flukes to the plane of the shank.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the anchor in place on bottom and ready to penetrate such bottom; the solid line portion shows one position of adjustment of the shank with respect to the flukes while the dotted line representation shows a second position.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the flukes, crown and a portion of each of the shank and stock, the view being partly in section to show how the stock is secured.

FIG. 3 is a partial side elevation showing the relation between the flukes and stock and the two ditferent positions of adjustment which can be effected between the flukes and the shank.

FIG. 4 is a section taken through the crown end of the anchor illustrating the two different positions of adjustment and the means for effecting such adjustment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The anchor of the present invention includes twin flat parallel flukes 6 and 7 extending rearwardly from the sharpened forward ends 8 and terminating in a'crown structure, generally indicated at 9. The crown extends transversely of the flukes and joins the flukes together. The crown includes faces 11 and 12 which slope upwardly and outwardly from the plane of the flukes at an angle of approximately 40 to the plane of the flukes.

The crown includes opposite end walls 14 and 16. Each of the flukes includes a stiffening web 15 which extends along the inner edge of each fluke to abut spaced side walls 17 and 18 which also serve to support the crown faces 11 and 12. Side walls 17 and 18 are joined by a vertical wall 19 to provide added strength to the crown. An eye 20 is provided on wall 19 for attachment of a line or cable to be used in marking the position of the anchor and to be used in retrieval of the anchor by application of a lifting force to the crown end of the anchor.

The sloping crown face which is engaged with the bottom serves to rotate the crown and the attached flukes on the stock whereby the points ofthe flukes dig into the bottom. Under continued pull on the shank, the flukes assume a final position on the stock and thereafter the anchor digs into the bottom until it is completely buried.

A stock 21 extends through the crown 9 and is held in place by keeper rings 22 welded to the stock to maintain it in position. The stock also provides a pivotal support for the shank 23 which extends forwardly from the stock to its forward end 24 upon which is mounted a shackle 26.

In accordance with this invention, the shank is formed with an outwardly extending abutment 31 on each side thereof which is adapted to engage a crown face and so limit the travel of the shank with respect to the flukes- In that form of structure shown in FIG. 3, the shank can be moved to an angle M of about 50 in either direction from the plane of the flukes to provide an anchor which is extremely efficient in soft mud. Each abutment 31 is formed to receive an adapter 36 which is secured in place by bolts 37 and which serve to limit the travel of the shank with respect to the crown to an angle S of about 35 at which the anchor is most efficient in sand.

The structure described is extremely rugged. Further, even though it has been used as a mooring for a considerable period and has become substantially permanently embedded in bottom, it is nevertheless sufficiently rugged that-it can withstand the removal forces essential to its retrieval from bottom.

I claim:

1. A mooring anchor including a pair of spaced apart, elongate, parallel flukes having forward ends and rearward ends, said flukes each having an elongate reinforcing web along adjacent side edges thereof, an integrally cast crown structure integral with said flukes at the rearward end thereof and including a pair of planar, sloping walls diverting rearwardly from the flukes at an angle of about 40 to the plane of the flukes, a first pair of transverse reinforcing walls integrally cast with the sloping walls and extending transversely therebetween adjacent the opposite ends thereof, a second pair of spaced apart transverse reinforcing walls integrally cast with said sloping walls and extending transversely therebetween in alignment with and integral with the reinforcing webs on the flukes, a pair of oppositely sloping, integrally cast, recessed abutment surfaces on said sloping walls between the pair of reinforcing walls diverging rearwardly from the flukes at an angle substantially greater than 40 to the plane of the flukes, aligned openings through said reinforcing walls, an elongate, solidstock rotatably received through said aligned openings and projecting at its opposite ends substantially beyond the opposite ends of the crown structure, a rigid, elongate shank pivotally mounted at one end thereof on said stock between said second pair.

of reinforcing walls and extending between said flukes, a pair of outwardly extending integral abutments on opposite sides of said shank at said one end thereof, said abutments each including a first surface inclined at an angle of about 50 relative to the plane of the flukes and a second surface extending outwardly from the first surface and substantially perpendicular to said shank said first and second surface being joined together to form an angle of about removable adaptor blocks having first and second surface portions thereon shaped complementary to the first and second surfaces of said abutments and secured on said-outwardly extending abutments on said shank for cooperation with said abutment surfaces on said crown to limit angular movement of said flukes relative to said shank, a longitudinally extending reinforcing wall extending between and integral with said second pair of reinforcing walls, and an eye on said longitudinally extending reinforcing wall for attachment of a line to mark the position of the anchor and to recover the anchor. 

1. A mooring anchor including a pair of spaced apart, elongate, parallel flukes having forward ends and rearward ends, said flukes each having an elongate reinforcing web along adjacent side edges thereof, an integrally cast crown structure integral with said flukes at the rearward end thereof and including a pair of planar, sloping walls diverging rearwardly from the flukes at an angle of about 40* to the plane of the flukes, a first pair of transverse reinforcing walls integrally cast with the sloping walls and extending transversely therebetween adjacent the opposite ends thereof, a second pair of spaced apart transverse reinforcing walls integrally cast with said sloping walls and extending transversely therebetween in alignment with and integral with the reinforcing webs on the flukes, a pair of oppositely sloping, integrally cast, recessed abutment surfaces on said sloping walls between the pair of reinforcing walls diverging rearwardly from the flukes at an angle substantially greater than 40* to the plane of the flukes, aligned openings through said reinforcing walls, an elongate, solid stock rotatably received through said aligned openings and projecting at its opposite ends substantially beyond the opposite ends of the crown structure, a rigid, elongate shank pivotally mounted at one end thereof on said stock between said second pair of reinforcing walls and extending between said flukes, a pair of outwardly extending integral abutments on opposite sides of said shank at said one end thereof, said abutments each including a first surface inclined at an angle of about 50* relative to the plane of the flukes and a second surface extending outwardly from the first surface and substantially perpendicular to said shank said first and second surface being joined together to form an angle of about 140*, removable adaptor blocks having first and second surface portions thereon shaped complementary to the first and second surfaces of said abutments and secured on said outwardly extending abutments on said shank for cooperation with said abutment surfaces on said crown to limit angular movement of said flukes relative to said shank, a longitudinally extending reinforcing wall extending between and integral with said second pair of reinforcing walls, and an eye on said longitudinAlly extending reinforcing wall for attachment of a line to mark the position of the anchor and to recover the anchor. 